Biomimetic Mineralization of Tooth Enamel Using Nanocrystalline Hydroxyapatite under Various Dental Surface Pretreatment Conditions

Abstract

In this report, we demonstrated the formation of a biomimetic mineralizing layer obtained on the surface of dental enamel (biotemplate) using bioinspired nanocrystalline carbonate-substituted calcium hydroxyapatite (ncHAp), whose physical and chemical properties are closest to the natural apatite dental matrix, together with a complex of polyfunctional organic and polar amino acids. Using a set of structural, spectroscopy, and advanced microscopy techniques, we confirmed the formation of a nanosized ncHAp-based mineralized layer, as well as studying its chemical, substructural, and morphological features by means of various methods for the pretreatment of dental enamel. The pretreatment of a biotemplate in an alkaline solution of Ca(OH)2 and an amino acid booster, together with the executed subsequent mineralization with ncHAp, led to the formation of a mineralized layer with homogeneous micromorphology and the preferential orientation of the ncHAp nanocrystals. It was shown that the homogeneous crystallization of hydroxyapatite on the biotemplate surface and binding of individual nanocrystals and agglomerates into a single complex by an amino acid booster resulted in an increase (~15%) in the nanohardness value in the enamel rods area, compared to that of healthy natural enamel. Obtaining a similar hierarchy and cleavage characteristics as natural enamel in the mineralized layer, taking into account the micromorphological features of dental tissue, is an urgent problem for future research.

Damage from Carbonated Soft Drinks on Enamel: A Systematic Review

“…When used alone or in conjunction with a mouthwash that also contains hydroxyapatite, hydroxyapatite toothpaste is an efficient home treatment for tooth erosion in physically active people such as rugby players [ 95 , 96 ]. In several research, the pH of commercial beverages such as sports and energy drinks, water, fruit juices and beverages, soda, milk, tea, and coffee was measured using a pH meter [ 60 , 97 ]. Moreover, gravimetric analysis and the Vickers hardness tester were used to assess the effect of five highly acidic drinks on weight loss and surface hardness of human teeth samples [ 60 , 97 , 98 ].…”

“…In several research, the pH of commercial beverages such as sports and energy drinks, water, fruit juices and beverages, soda, milk, tea, and coffee was measured using a pH meter [ 60 , 97 ]. Moreover, gravimetric analysis and the Vickers hardness tester were used to assess the effect of five highly acidic drinks on weight loss and surface hardness of human teeth samples [ 60 , 97 , 98 ]. Sports and energy drinks, fruit juices, and carbonated soft drinks were in the most acidic beverage categories, considerably reducing enamel surface hardness owing to mineral loss [ 60 , 95 , 98 ].…”

“…Moreover, gravimetric analysis and the Vickers hardness tester were used to assess the effect of five highly acidic drinks on weight loss and surface hardness of human teeth samples [ 60 , 97 , 98 ]. Sports and energy drinks, fruit juices, and carbonated soft drinks were in the most acidic beverage categories, considerably reducing enamel surface hardness owing to mineral loss [ 60 , 95 , 98 ]. Sports participation was found to be substantially connected to erosive injuries [ 99 ].…”

“…The characteristics of dental enamel are not common at the macro- and micro-structural morphological level [ 58 , 59 ]. Therefore, the mechanism of enamel erosion must be analyzed from a microscopic point of view [ 60 , 61 ].…”

Development of a Hybrid Biomimetic Enamel-Biocomposite Interface and a Study of Its Molecular Features Using Synchrotron Submicron ATR-FTIR Microspectroscopy and Multivariate Analysis Techniques

“…The introduction of amino acids and alkalinization under given conditions should increase the hierarchical organization of the pretreated organomineral matrix of apatite [ 8 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Thus, in our previous work, it was shown that the pretreatment of enamel in the alkaline solution of Ca(OH) 2 and an amino acid booster, and the following mineralization performed with the use of hydroxyapatite (HAp), resulted in the formation of a mineralized layer with homogeneous micromorphology and presumable orientation of HAp nanocrystals [ 32 , 33 ]. The binding of hydroxyapatite nanocrystals with an amino acid complex resulted in a considerable increase (~15%) in the nanohardness value in the mineralized layer as compared with a similar value of the intact natural enamel.…”